Vending machine



Aug. v19, 1941. w. T. STANFORD 1 2,253,44

v NDING MACHINE A' Filed sept". 2e, 1959 5 sheets-sheet '2 /KSZ-Zdiunfrc,

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i 1. YW M Wmdmf Aug. 19, 1941.

w. T. sTANFoRD VENDI'NG MACHINE -Aug. 19, 1941. w. T. STANFORD VENDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 26. 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 brd,

Patented Aug. i9, 19441` VENDING MACHINE William T. Stanford, Oklahoma City, Okla., as-

signor of nity-seven and one-half per cent to J. I. Gibson and Leonard H. Savage, jointly; and forty-two and one-half per cent' to William E. Attaway, all of Oklahoma City, Okla.

Application September 26, 1939, Serial No. 296,698

(Cl. S12- 87) 16 Claims.

This invention relates to vending machines, and has particular reference to a vending machine which is especially intended and adapted for the vending of bottled beverages, although the same may readily be adapted to vend various other commodities.

Generally speaking, the object of the` invention is to provide a. machine to contain a plurality of different kinds of bottled beverages or other commodities, and which embodies simple, practical means for the seletcion of the kind of bottled beverage or other commodity to be dispensed, and simple, practical, coin controlled means for ef,- fecting delivery of the particular kind of bottled beverage or other commodity selected.

`A special object of the invention is to provide a vending machine mechanism embodying means as stated and which may readily be installed in a known type of refrigerating container for bottled beverages.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding partsin the diierent views:

Figure 1 is a top plan View, with parts removed to disclose the underlying structure, of a vending machine constructed in accordance with one practical embodiment of the invention.

' Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. f

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken approximately on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a plan View showing particularly the selector means and the coin controlled mechanism.

Figure 5 is a cross section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3 showing a normal status of the delivery mechanism.

Figure 6 is a cross section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3 showing a partial delivery status of the delivery mechanism.

Figure '7 is .an enlarged detail longitudinal section through a part of the mechanism.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail horizontal sectional view through a part of the mechanism.

Figure'9 is an elevation of one of the clutches 'included in the mechanism.

rthe beverages cold, since it is a feature of the invention that the present vending mechanism may readily be installed in such a container.

The container A includes, as usual, insulated side, end and bottom Walls and a top closure I0 to be opened to alford access to the container for the purpose of supplying the same with bottles of beverage or other commodities to be dispensed and to be secured closed in any suitable manner to prevent unauthorized access to the container.

Since the invention as illustrated is particularly adapted for vending bottled beverages, such as soft drinks, it will be hereinafter assumed, for the sake of simplifying this description, that the commodity handled by the machine is bottled soft drinks of different kinds or flavors. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the commodity handled may be bottled, canned or otherwise packaged goods of various other kinds.

In accordance with the invention there is suitably mounted Within the container A a supporting structure, designated generally asB, for the bottles, designated as C, to be vended or dispensed.

The supporting structure B may be of any suitable construction and is illustrated in the present instance as comprising a horizontally disposed plate I I extending almost from end to end of the container A and having cooperating therewith a plurality of vertically disposed, longitudinally extending partition elements I2 dividing the space thereabove into a plurality of separate, longitudinally extending guideways b, each approximately of the same width as the diameter of a bottle C.

In the present instance the plate Il is illustrated as being mounted within the container A by having its end portions disposed between and fastened to the inwardly extending side anges I3 of a pair of brackets I4 and I5, each of U- shape as viewed in plan and fastened, respectively, against the end walls of the container A. Also, in the present instance, the two outermost partition elements I2 are illustrated as being mounted in operative relationship to the plate II by having their ends suitably fastened to the side flanges I8 of the brackets Il and Il. and the intermediate partition elements I2 are illustrated as being removably mounted for cleaning purposes by having their lower edges engaged in grooves formed in the plate II. However, the plate Il and the partition elements I2 may be mounted in any other suitable or desired manner, or the guideways b may be provided in any other suitable or desired manner.

rIhere may be any suitable number of the guideways b and they are, of course, disposed in side to side relationship, each to contain a plurality of the bottles C to be vended. In any given runway all of the bottles contain a beverage of the same kind or avor, whereas, in the different runways, the kinds or flavors of the beverages contained in the bottles are different.

At the bottom of each guideway b is a skidway I6 on which the bottoms of the related row of bottles rest for free and easy sliding movement longitudinally through the guideway, each skidway I8 being comprised, for example, by a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending flanges which rise from the plate II and on the narrow upper edges of which the bottoms of the upright bottles C rest.

Also at the bottom of each guideway b is a suitable conveyor I1 for moving the related row of bottles longitudinally along the guideway, each conveyor comprising, for example, an endless chain extending longitudinally of its related guideway and having upper and lower reaches of which the upper reach is disposed above the plate II between the skidway anges and the lower reach is disposed below said plate. The skidway flanges extend slightly above the upper reaches of the conveyor chains so that the bottles do not rest upon the conveyor chains and thereby do not interfere with free travel of the latter, but on each conveyor chain is a series of fingers I8 which are spaced apart longitudinally therealong distances apart corresponding substantially to the diameters of the bottles and which project from the upper reach of the chain above the top edges of the skidways so as to engage between the bottles C and respectively advance the latter when the conveyor is moved. In other words, when any given conveyor I'I is advanced, it operates to advance all of the bottles in the related guideway longitudinally therealong, each individual bottle being separately advanced by a related nger I8 on the conveyor. A transverse, horizontal shaft I9 is suitably mounted adjacent to each end of the plate II, and loose on shafts for rotation with respect thereto, are sprocket wheels 20 over which the conveyor chains I1 extend.

Above the shaft I9 at one end of the container A is a transverse, horizontal shaft 2| which is journaled for rotation in bearings carried by the flanges I3 of the bracket I4 and which has xed thereon a bevel gear 22 with which meshes a bevel gear 23 on a vertically disposed power shaft 24 whereby said shaft 2I is adapted to be power driven.

On the shaft 2I is a plurality of clutches D which are duplicates of one another and which correspond in number to the number of guideways b and conveyors I'I, there being in the present instance ve of said guideways and conveyors and, consequently, five of said clutches, one related to each guideway and conveyor.

Each clutch D comprises (see Figs. '7 to 10), a toothed clutch element 25 fixed to the shaft 2I; a sleeve 26 rotatable on said shaft and confined between the clutch element 28 and a pin 21 or other suitable abutment on the shaft 2l whereby it is held against longitudinal -movement relative to said shaft: a second toothed clutch element 28 longitudinally sli'dable on the sleeve 28 into and out of clutching cooperation with the clutch element 25, but held again'st rotation relative to said sleeve in any suitable manner, as, for example, by means of a pin 29 extending radially outward from said sleeve through an elongated. longitudinally extending slot 80 in said second clutch element; and a suitable spring 8| tending constantly to urge the second clutch element 28 along the sleeve 22 into clutching cooperation with the clutch element 25.

Both clutch elements 25 and 28 are in the form of sleeves, the former embracing the shaft 2I to which it is fixed, and the latter embracing the sleeve 28, on which it is longitudinally slidable but non-rotatable, and the coacting teeth of said clutch elements are on their adjacent ends, whereby their engagement and disengagement is effected by sliding of the element 28 along the sleeve 26. Fixed on the sleeve 28 is a sprocket wheel 82, and in the present instance the spring 3|, in the form of an expansion coil spring, surrounds said sleeve and is interposed between the hub of said sprocket wheel and the adjacent end of the clutch element 28, whereby it tends constantly to urge said clutch element 28 into engagement with the clutch element 25.

Obviously, when the clutch elements 25, 28 are disengaged, rotation of the shaft 2I does not impart rotation to the sleeve 26, but when said r clutch elements are engaged, rotation of said shaft is transmitted through said clutch elements to the sleeve 26 and, as a consequence, rotation is imparted to the sprocket wheel 32.

Extending over the sprocket wheel 32 of each clutch D and over a related sprocket wheel 88 loose on the underlying shaft I9 but fixed with respect to a related conveyor sprocket wheel 20 on said shaft I8, is a sprocket chain Il. Accordingly, whenever the clutch elements m 28 of any given clutch D are engaged witn each other and the shaft 2I is rotated, the related conveyor I1 is driven. In this connection it is pointed out that the direction of rotation of the shaft 2I is such as to cause any conveyor I'I operated thereby to advance the bottles C toward the end of the container A remote from the end adjacent to which the shaft 2I is located.

Related to each clutch D is a means, designated generally as E, which serves normally to hold the clutch element 28 disengaged from the clutch element 25; which may be tripped to permit the spring 8| to act to eifect engagement of the clutch element 28 with the clutch element 25, and which operates, responsive to a predetermined amount of rotation of the clutch element 28, to eifect disengagement of the latter from the clutch element 25.

Each means E comprises a suitable support 35 secured, for example, to the bracket Il.' and a finger 3B pivoted intermediate its ends, as at 31, to said bracket and having what may be termed its forward end portion overlying the clutch element 28 of the related clutch D. The said forward end portion of the finger 88 is curved corresponding to the curvature of the clutch element 28 and a suitable spring 38 tends constantly to rotate or rock said finger on its pivot in a direction to cause the said forward end of said finger to rest normally upon the top of said clutch element 28. The edge of the agua-1.47

curved, forward portion of the finger which faces the outer end of the clutch eiement28 is inclined as indicated at 33 (Fig. 8) and on the clutch element 28 is a short, radial, outwardly projecting pin 40 which cooperates with said inclined edge 33 when the forward end portion of the linger is in its normai'position. to effect longitudinal shifting of the clutch element 28 and its disengagement from the clutch element 25 responsive to rotation of said clutch element 28 by the clutch element 25. By depressing the rear end portion of the nger 35 its forward end portion is elevated above the pin 48 and the spring 3| is permitted to shift said clutch eiement 28 into engagement with the clutch element 25. 1f, then, the finger 35 is released. the clutch element 23 remains engaged with the clutch element 25 until a complete rotation of the clutch element 28 occurs, but during the nal portion of said complete rotation the pin 40 coacts with the inclined edge 33 of the finger 35 to effect disengagement of the clutch element 28 from the clutch element 25. A complete rotation of the clutch element 28 produces a complete rotation of the sleeve 25 and of the sprocket wheel 32 carried by said sleeve, and one complete rotation of`said sprocket wheel is effective to advance the related conveyor chain |1 an amount corresponding to the spaced apart relationship of the bottles C in the related row.

From the foregoing it is apparent that, so long as the several fingers 35 are in their normal positions holding the clutch elements 28 of the several clutches D disengaged from their related clutch elements k25, rotation of the shaft 2| will not effect driving of any conveyor chain I1. On the other hand, it is equally apparent that, when any given finger 35 is tripped by depressing its rear end, the related clutch element 28 will, by its spring 3|, be instantly engaged with its related clutch element 25 and the related conveyor chain will be driven until disengagement of the clutch element 28 from the clutch element 25 is automatically effected by the coaction of the pin 40 with the inclined edge 33 of the finger 35. Thereafter the clutch will, of course, remain disengaged until the finger 35 again is tripped.

Above the shaft 2| and parallel therewith is a longitudinally shiftable and rockable shaft 4| which carries a number of ltripping fingers 42, one related to each of the aforesaid fingers 35. The fingers 42 are spaced along the shaft 4| so that by longitudinally shifting said shaft any given finger 42 may be'brought to a position in overlying relationship to the related finger 35. Moreover, the ngers 42 extend rearwardly from the shaft 4I to cooperate with therear end portions of the fingers 35, so that when, as a result of longitudinal adjustment of the shaft 4|, any given finger 42 is brought into overlying relationship to the related finger 35, rocking of the shaft 4| in a direction to effect downward movement of the fingers 42, will result in tripping of the finger 35 with which any given finger 42 is alined. Furthermore, the spacing of the fingers 42 along the shaft 4| is such that when any given finger 42 is'in operative, overlying'relationship to its related finger 35, all other of the fingers 42 are disalined from their related fingers 35. Ac-

flcordingly, not more than one finger 35 may be 'tripped by rocking of the shaft 4I in any given ing this rack bar with the shaft 4| is an arm 45, whereby longitudinal shifting of said rack bar longitudinally shifts or adjustssaid shaft 4|.

In mesh with the teeth of the rack bar 44 is a pinion 45 which is carried by the lower end of a vertical shaft 41 and which is rotatable by rotation of said shaftto adjust said rack bar longitudinally. The shaft 41 is journaled for rotation in suitable bearings and extends through acover element 48 permanently closing a part of' the top of the container A, and at its upper end isequipped with a suitable handle 43 for effecting its' rotation.

The handle 43 overlies a retaining plate 50 for a plurality of crimp caps 5|, such as are employed for closing the mouths of the bottles C, and said retaining plate has openings through which the .tops of the crimp' caps are visible. The crimp caps correspond in number to the number of guideways b and are angularly spaced around the shaft 41, their spacing, in consideration to the diameter of the pinion 45, being such that when the handle 43 is swung into alinement with any one of the same, the resultant longitudinal adjustment imparted to the shaft 4| is such that a certain one of the fingers 42 is broughtinto operative, overlying relationship to its related clutch tripping finger 35. More particularly, the arrangement in this respect is such in the present instance that when the handle 43 is alined with what may be said to be the first cap 5| in the circumferential row of such caps, as shown in Fig. 4, the first or left-handmost finger 42, as viewed in Fig. 2, is alined with the first or left-handmost tripping finger 35 that is related to the first or left-hand-most clutch D that, in turn, is related to the first or left-hand-most guideway b, and all of theremaining fingers 42` are disalined from their related tripping fingers 35. Thus, if the shaft 4| is rocked to depress its fingers 42 while the handle 43 is in the position shown in Fig. 4, only the first or left-hand-most clutch D, as viewed in Fig. 2 will be engaged and all ofthe remaining clutches D will remain disengaged. This means, of course, assuming rotation of the shaft 2|, that when the shaft 4| is rocked to depress its ngers 42 While the handle 43 is in the position shown in Fig. 4, only the'first or left-handmost conveyor l1 will be driven and all of the other conveyors |1 will remain idle. Similarly, if the handle 43 is moved into alinement with the second crimp cap 5|, the second finger 42 will be alined with its related finger 35 and all vof the other fingersv 42 and 36 will be disalined from each other, so that upon rocking of the shaft 4| while thev handle 43 is alined with the second crimp cap 5|, only the second clutch D will be engaged and only the second conveyor |1 will be driven. In like manner, if the handle 43 is moved into alinement with the third crimp cap, only the third clutch D will be engaged as a result of rocking of the shaft 4| and only the third conveyor |1 will be driven, and so on with respect to alinement of the handle 43 with the remaining crimp caps.

The crimp caps 5l are duplicates of the crimp caps which close the mouths of the bottles C, and since the first crimp cap 5| is related to the first conveyor |1 and the second crimp cap 5| is related to the second conveyor I1, and so on, and since crimp caps usually carry an indication of the kind of beverage that is contained in bottles which they close, it is apparent that' by having the crimp caps 5| correspond, respectively, to thecrimp caps on the bottles in the related guideways b, said crimp caps 5I afford a practical means of indicating the proper position to which to move the handle 48 to select any'given con-v veyor I1 for actuation.

The crimp cap retaining plate 58 is fastened to the cover element 48 by screws or in any other suitable manner whereby it may readily be removed to permit changing of the crimp caps 8l whenever a change is made in the kind or flavor of the beverage contained in the bottles C in any or all of the guideways b.

A coin controlled mechanism, designated generally as F, controls rocking of the shaft 4l and application of power to the shaft 2|.

In the present instance, the coin controlled mechanism F and an electric motor 52, suitably connected to the shaft 24 for driving the same and thereby driving the shaft 2|, are housed within a casing 53 mounted upon the cover element 48.

The mechanism F includes, in the present in' stance, a slide bar 54 which extends exteriorly of the casing 53 and which is provided with a slot 55 into which a coin or check, indicated by dot and dash lines and designated as c in Fig. 2, must be inserted in order to permit a certain amount of inward movement of said slide bar, which movement is prevented unless a coin or check is inserted into said slot. Coin or check released slide bar devices of this kind are well known and no novelty is claimed in respect to the present slide bar device per se. Accordingly, said device is not illustrated in'detail. Suflice it to say that when a coin or check is inserted into the slot 55 the slide bar 54 may be slid inwardly a suftcient amount to actuate means presently to be described for rocking the shaft 4i to eifect depression of the fingers 42, and that unless a coin or check is inserted into said slot such an amount of inward sliding movement'of the slide bar is prevented. Of course, it is understood that the slide bar is constantly spring-urged outwardly and that when a coin or check is inserted into the slot 55 and said bar is slid to its limit of inward movement, the coin drops into the casing 53 and upon release of the slide bar the same is spring-returned to its normal, outermost position.

The means whereby inward sliding movement of the slide bar 54 eiects rocking of the shaft 4i, comprises (see Figs. 2 and 4) suitable bearings 51 carried for example by a side wall of the casing y 53; a bar 58 mounted in said bearings for longitudinal sliding movement parallel to the slide bar 54; an arm 58 extending laterally from the inner end of the slide bar 54 toward the slide bar 58 and carrying a saddle 88 which embraces the slide bar 58 and which, at its outer end or end nearer the front end of the casing 53, is `pivotally mounted on the arm 59 whereby its other or inner end tends constantly, under the influence of gravity or under the influence of a suitable spring, to swing downwardly; a cross pin 8| carried by said saddle near the inner end thereof and resting upon the upper edge of the slide bar 58 whereby downward swinging movement of the inner end of said saddle is controlled by the upper edge of said slide bar 58; a notch 82 in the vupper edge of the slide bar 58 to permit downward swinging movement of the inner end of the saddle 88 when the latter is moved a short distance inwardly relative to the slide bar 58 and providing a shoulder 83 against which the pin 8| is adapted to abut so that continued inward movement of the saddle 88 effects inward sliding movement of said slide bar 58; an upwardly and inwardly inclined plate 84 fixedly mounted below the slide bar 88 to be engaged by the lower, inner corner of the saddle 88 to lift the inner end of said saddle and thereby disengage the pin 8| from in front of the shoulder 88 at the termination of a predetermined amount of inward movement of the slide bar 58; a spring tending constantly to retract or move the slide bar 58 outwardly and operable to do so the instant the pin 8| is disengaged from in front of the shoulder 88; a bell-crank lever 88 having one arm thereof connected to the slide bar 88 whereby said lever is rocked responsive to sliding movement of said slide bar 58; a shaft 81 carrying a lever arm 88 to which the other arm of said bell-crank lever is connected whereby said shaft is rocked responsive to sliding'movement of the slide bar 58; a second arm 88 extending from the shaft 81; a rod 18 connected at its upper end with the arm 88 and extending downwardly through an opening in the cover element 48; and a lever arm 1| on the shaft 4I with which the lower end of the rod 18 is connected and which is in the form of a bail, as best shown in Fig. 1, whereby the shaft 4I may be slid longitudinally without disturbing its operative connection with the rod 18.

When a coin or check is deposited in the slot 55 and the slide bar 54 is slid inwardly the saddle 58 is slid inwardly therewith relative to the slide bar 58 until the saddle pin 8| rides downwardly into the notch 82 in the slide bar 58 and abuts the shoulder 83. Thereupon. further inward sliding movement of the slide bar 54 op- `:rates through the saddle 88 to slide the slide car 58 inwardly. As the slide bar 58 slides inwardly it operates through the bell-crank 88 and the lever arms 88, 88 to effect downward rocking movement of the latter lever arm and downward movement of the rod 18, which, in turn, operates through the lever or bail 1l to rock the shaft 4l to effect depression of the fingers 42. By the time a sufficient amount of inward movement of the slide bar 58 has occurred to cause depression of the fingers 42, the cam plate 84 will have acted to lift the inner end of the saddle 88 and to have effected disengagement of the pin 8| from in front of the shoulder 83. The slide bar 58 thus will be released and will be returned by the spring 85 to its outer or normal position, regardless of whether the slide bar 54 is held in its inwardly slid position or immediately is released. Upon return of the slide bar 58 to its outer or normal position thel rod 18 is, of course, returned to its normal, uppermost position and the shaft 4i is rocked to elevate the fingers 42. Accordingly, whenever a coin or check c is inserted in the slot 55 and the slide bar 54 is slid inwardly, there occurs a momentary depression of the fingers 42 suicient to trip any' clutch releasing finger 38 with which any given linger 42 may be alined. Obviously. however, due to the fact that the slide bar 58 is released and is returned to its outer or normal position when the slide bar 54 is slid inwardly, and due to the fact that the slide bar 54 must be returned to its normal or outer position and another coin or check must be inserted into the slot 55 before said slide bar 54 may be slid inwardly to .effect depression of the fingers 42, it is not possible to effect more than a single depression of said fingers 42 as a consequence of the insertion of a single coin or check into the slot 55. In other words, the mechanism described requires the insertion of a coin or check for each depression of the fingers/42, which means that for each coin inserted only one conveyor I1 will be operated and only one bottle will be dispensed or vended, in a manner presently to be described.

The electric motor 82 is controlled by a snap switch, designated generally as 12, which may be of any suitable or well known type and which may be mounted Within the casing 53 in any suitable, manner. This switch has a normally open status maintaining the power circuit of the. motor 62 open, and is operable to a closed status, to close said motor circuit, by swinging of a pivoted lever 13 from the full line to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4.' A member 14 on the slide bar 54 serves to swing the lever 13 from its full to its dotted line position when said slide bar is slid inwardly to rock the shaft 4I. Accordingly, the motor 52 is started to drive the shaft 2| simultaneously with engagement of a selected clutch D.

While the switch 12 has a lnormally open status, it does not immediately return to that status following closing of the same by inwardA sliding movement of the slide bar 54 and subsequent return of said slide bar to its outer position. On the contrary, there is connected with the lever 13, through a link 15, a spring device 16 which is energized by swinging movement of the lever 13 to its dotted line position and which includes a suitable escapement means whereby return of said lever 13 to its full line position is delayed for a suitable period of time suflicient to maintain the motor 52 operating for .the required period of time to perform its functions. The spring device 16 may be of any suitable type and no novelty is claimed in respect to the same per se. Y Accordingly, it has been deemed unnecessary to illustrate said device in detail.

At the end of the container A opposite the end thereof where are located the shafts 2| and 4| and their related parts, is a bottle ejecting mechanism, designated generally as G, which comprises means for moving a bottle, delivered by any one of the conveyors I1, into a position in alinement with a bottle discharge opening 11 in a fixed cover element 18 of the container A, and for elevating the bottle through said opening sufiiciently so that it may readily be grasped and removed.

'Common to the conveyors I1 and guideways b to either side of the middle conveyor and guideway, is a fixed, horizontal platform 19, the top of which is disposed substantially in the plane of the top edges of the flanges I6 so that when any except the middle conveyor is operated to advance its related row of bottles one step,` or, in other words, an amount corresponding to the spaced apart relationship of the bottles along the conveyor, the end bottle of the row is delivered onto said platform. l

In the platform 19 is a recess 88 which is alined with the middle guideway b, and which is of substantially the same width as said middle guideway, and in which normally is disposed an elevatable platform section 8| onto which a bottle advanced by the middle conveyor I1 is delivered.

The opening 11 is disposed directly over the elevatable platform section 8|. Consequently, when a bottle is delivered onto said platform section and the latter then is elevated, the bottle will be projected upwardly through the opening 11. The middle conveyor I1 delivers its bottles directly onto the platform section 8|. On the other hand, the remaining conveyors deliver their bottles onto the platform 19 to one side or the other of the elevatable platform section 8|. Accordingly. means is provided for laterally moving a. bottle, delivered by any'conveyor I1 onto the platform 19 ,to either side of the platform section 8|.-onto said platform section 8| for elevation by the latter through the opening 11.

On a pair of transverse, horizontally disposed guide rods 82, which may be mounted at their ends in the side flanges I8, I3 of the bracket I`5, or upo any other suitable and equivalent guide means, are slidably mounted two bottle shifting elements 83, 93, one related to the guideways b and the portion of the platform 19 to one side of the middle guideway b and the other related to the guideways b and the portion of the platform 19 to the other side of the middle guideway b, and each suitably constructed so that when it is moved from its outermost position, shown in Fig. 5, to its innermost position, shown in Fig. 6, it serves to shift across its related portion of the platform 19, onto the elevatable platform section 8|, any bottle which may have been delivered onto its related portion of the platform 19.

In the present instance, each of the bottle shifting elements 83 islof substantially L-shape as viewed in plan and includes a flange 84 which, in the outermost position of the element, is disposed at the outer side of the outermost of the related guideways b and which extends inwardly almost to the ends of the partition elements |2. Accordingly, when a bottle is delivered by any conveyor I1 onto the platform 19 to either side of the platform section 8|, and when the bottle shifting elements 83 subsequently are moved inwardly, the bottle is shifted across the platform 19 onto the elevatable platform section 9|.

Connected at their lower ends to the elements 83, 83 for shifting them inwardly and outwardly are substantially vertically disposed levers 85 and 86, respectively, which are disposed in out-ofthe-Way positions against or closely adjacent to the end wall of the bracket I5. The lever 85 is pivoted at its upper end to the rear Wall of the bracket I5, as indicated at 81; the lever 86 is pivoted intermediate its ends to the rear Wall of said bracket, as indicated at 88, and a link 89 connects a medial portion of the lever 85 with the upper end of the lever 88. Accordinglythe elements 83, 83, are shiftable inwardly and outwardly simultaneously. I y

For actuating the levers 85, 86 to shift the elements 83, 83 inwardly and outwardly there is provided at one side of the guideways b a longitudinally extending horizontal shaft 90 having a crank arm 9| which is connected with the lever 85 or, alternatively, with the link 89, by a connecting rod 92. The length of the crank arm 9| and the point of connection of the connecting rod 92 with the lever 85, or with the link 89, as the case may be, is such that when the members 83, 83 are in their outermost positions their anges 84 are disposed, as aforesaid, at the outer sides of the outermost guideways b, and when said members are in their innermost positions the flanges 84 are disposed at the outer sides of the middle guideway b. Accordingly, a bottle positioned at any point on the platform 19 is shifted onto the elevatable platform section 8| when the members 83, 83 are moved inwardly.

The shaft 90 extends substantially from end to end of the container A and at its end opposite the bottle discharge end of said casing, has rotatably mounted thereon a bevel gear 93 includ'- ing a hub 9d whichls journaled in a suitable fixed bracket 95. The gear 93 thus serves as Y -a support and journal for the said end of said Cil longitudinally slidable but non-rotatably mcunted on the shaft 99. pin 99 carried by the hub 9 of the gear and operating in an annular channel in the shaft 99, holds said gear against longitudinal movement relative to said shaft, and on the adjacent ends of said hub and the sleeve tl are suitable teeth 99 which are engageable and-disengageable to connect and disconnect the gear 99 with and from the shaft by longitudinal movement of said sleeve toward and away from said gear.

In the present instance a cross pin 99 extending through the shaft 99 and operating in elongated, longitudinally extending slots i90 in the sleeve 91, serves to interconnect said sleeve and shaft for unitary rotation, and an expansion coil spring iti, surrounding the shaft 99 and interposed between the outer end of the sleeve 91 and a collar or other suitable abutment 02 on the shaft 99, tends constantly to urge said sleeve 91 toward the hub 94.

Pivoted intermediate its ends upon a pin i199 carried by the bracket 95 or by any other suitable support, is a iinger i04, one end portion |05 of which overlies the sleeve 9i' and is curved corresponding to the curvature of said sleeve so as to closely engage the latter, and the other end portion 96 of which is provided with an upstanding ange E01 the top edge ofiwhich is inclined to the horizontal.

A suitable spring i99 tends constantly to rock the linger i04 in a direction to cause its end portion 405 to rest upon the sleeve 91. Moreover, the edge of the portion 05 of said finger which faces toward the outer end of the sleeve 91 is inclined outwardly, as regards the direction of rotation of said sleeve 91 and as indicated at |09, for cooperation with a pin H extending radially outward from said sleeve 91. The relationship of the pin H0 to the teeth 99 of the sleeve 91 and to the inclined edge |09 of the linger |04 is such that, when the sleeve 91 is in its innermost position with its teeth engaged with the teeth of the hub 94 and said sleeve is rotated with the shaft 90, the pin ||0 rides against the said inclined edge |09 of the finger |04 and eiects outward movement of the sleeve 91, thereby effecting disengagement of its teeth from the teeth of the hub 94.

Obviously, upon disengagement of the sleeve 91 from the hub 94, rotation of the shaft 90 will cease even though the gear 93 continues to ro tate, and the sleeve 91 will be held in its outer, disengaged position by the nger |04 until the end portion of the latter is elevated above the pin ||0. Thereupon, the spring |0| instantly will act to slide the sleeve 91 inwardly and effect engagement of its teeth with the teeth of the hub 94.

Suitable means, such as a 99 of 'the clutch H.

Engagement and disengagement 0f the clutch 75 I-I is effected in timed relationship to actuation of any given conveyor i1 so that the elements 93, 93 first are caused to be moved inwardly immediately following delivery of a bottle by any given conveyor, thereby to shift the bottle onto the elevatable platform section Si, and then are caused to return to their outermost positions in readiness to again be moved inwardly when an-l other oottle is delivered by any given conveyor. In this connection it will be observed that above and parallel and inwardly with respect to the shaft is a shaft iii which is mounted for oscillation in the flanges it, i9 of the bracket 'ld and which carries a plurality of depending arms il?, one related to each clutch D.

Also carried by the shaft iii is an additional depending arm i i3 which is related to the nnger a suitable spring i4 tends constantly to rotate the shaft iii in a direction to swing the arm i i3 toward the lower end of the inclined top edge of the lllange 01 or" the finger ltd, and any suitable stop means, such as a pin lib on the shaft lli engageable with a fixed `pin H9, limits rotation of said shaft by said spring. Normally the pin iid is engaged with the pin i it, and in the position of the shaft iii as determined by engagement of'said pin titi with said pin ll, the arm M3 is disposed so that a pin ill which extends laterally therefrom across the inclined top edge of the :dange 301 of the linger |04, is disposed across the lowermost end portion of said flange in, or substantially in, contact therewith when the end portion |05 of the finger l04 is resting upon the sleeve 91 of the clutch H. Accordingly, if the shaft lll is rotatedfin a direction counter to the direction in which/it is urged by the spring ||4 while the end portion |05 of the finger |04 is resting upon the/clutch sleeve 91 and while the edge 509 of said-*finger i04 is operating through the pin ||0 t hold the clutch sleeve 91 in its outer, disengaged position, consequent movement of the pin !|1 along the inclined upper edge of the flange |01 toward the higher end thereof will result in depression of the end portion |06 of the finger- |04 and in elevation of the end portion i05 of said linger, thereby releasing the sleeve 91 for inward projection by the spring |0I.

Each arm ||2 on the shaft is alined with the pin 29 of the related clutch D, and in the normal position of said shaft as determined by engagement of its pin ||5 with the stop pin H6, the arms ||2 are disposed so that when any given pin 29 is rotated with the clutch sleeve 26 carrying the same, said pin engages the free or lower end portion of its related arm ||2 and swings the same, thereby rocking the shaft in a direction to cause the pin ||1 on the arm to coact with the upper, inclined edge of the flange |01 of the finger |04 to rock said finger to release the sleeve 91 of the clutch H for inward projection.

'I'he lengths of the pins 29 and of the arms H2 are such that the amount of rocking movement imparted to the shaft by the coaction of any given pin 29 with its related arm ||2 is just suicient to produce the required amount of swinging movement of the arm I3 to rock the finger |04 to release the clutch sleeve 91. Upon the completion of such an amount of rocking movement oi' the shaft the'free end of the pin 29 moves across the free end of the arm 2 and the latter is released, whereupon the spring ||4 acts to return the shaft to its normal position with its pin ||5 engaged with the stop pin and with the pin ||1 of the arm ||3.dis posed across the lowermost portion of the inclined upper edge of the flange |01 of the finger |04. Of course, upon return of the pin ||1 to the lower end of the flange |01, the spring |00 acts to return the finger |04 to its normal position so that upon subsequent rotation of the clutch sleeve 01 said sleeve is disengaged by the coaction of its pin ||0 with the inclined edge |00 of said finger |04.

The normal relationship between the pin 20 of each clutch D and its related arm ||2 is such that travel of any given pin 20 through substantially a complete'rotation occurs before the related arm ||2 is swung sufficiently to effect release of the sleeve 01 of the clutch H. Accordingly, upon actuation of any given tripping finger 30 and engagement of the related clutch D, the related conveyor |1 is driven an amount to deliver a bottle onto the platform 18 before the elements 03, 83 begin to move inwardly to shift the delivered bottle onto the elevatable platform section 8|.

The elevatable platform section 0| is mounted for vertical movement in any suitable manner, as, for example, upon a pair of suitably mounted vertical guide rods I |0, and it may be either spring urged or gravity operated to its normal, lowermost position. For elevating said platform section there'is provided a suitable flexible element ||9 which is attached at one end to a back wall which is fastened at its lower end-to the end wall ofthe bracket Il and which, at itsupper end is free. When the platform section'0| is elevated its lip |20 wipes against the projection |20 and flexes the spring arm rearwardly, but the instant the lip moves'above said projection the arm |30 springs forwardly until the projection |28 underlies the lip |20 and thereby prevents descent of the platform section. A

At the upper, free end of the spring arm |30 is a lip |3| which extends toward a bottle supported on the platform section 0| and which, in the elevated position of the bottle, is accommodated above the main body portion of the bottle in the space afforded by the reduced neck portion thereof. Accordingly, when the bottle is removed through the opening 11 its main body portion engages the lip |3| and presses the spring arm |30 rearwardly thereby disengaging the projection |23 from beneath the lip |20 and releasing the platform section 8| for descent.

In order to guard against removal of a bottle through the opening 11 without effecting release of the projection |28 from beneath the lip |28, as might be possible if the bottle, during its removal, could be tilted to permit itsbody portion t0 pass the lip |3| without acting therethrough to depress the spring arm |30, there may be pro- |20 of said platform section and which, at its other end, is anchored, as indicated at 2|, and which extends upwardly from the back wall |20, thence over a guide sheave |22, thence laterally toward the shaft 90 and thence over a guide sheave |23 carried at the upper end of an offset portion |24 of an arm |25 which is pivoted at its lower end, as at |26, for lateral swinging movement. Accordingly, upon outward swinging movement of the arm |25, a pull is exerted upon the flexible element ||9 and the platform section 8| is elevated.

Since the platform section 8| normally is spring urged or gravity actuated to its lowermost position, the arm |25 normally is disposed in an innermost position, and in this connection it will be noted that the upper end of said arm |25, when in its normal position, is disposed to be engaged and swung outwardly by a projecting portion of the pin |21 which connects the link 32 with the lever arm 9|, after there has occurred an amount of rotation of said lever arm 9| sufiicient to move the bottle shifting elements 83 to their innermost positions. In other words, the arrangement of the parts described is such that the platform section 8| remains in its lowermost position until a bottle has been shifted onto the same, and elevation of said platform section is initiated simultaneously with return of the elements 83 from I their inner to their outer positions.

At about the same time the elements 83 reach their normal, outermost positions the pin l|21 rides across the upper end of the arm |25 and thereby releases said arm so that it may return to its normal, innermost position responsive to descent of the platform section 8|. However, in order to insure that the platform section 0| will remain elevated until the bottle contained thereon and in part projected through the discharge opening 11, has been removed, there is provided on the back wall |20 of the platform section 8| a rearwardly` extending lip |28 and, for engagement beneath said lip when said platform section is elevated, a projection |29 on a spring arm |30 vided upon the top of the cover element 18 an upstanding guide member |32 to prevent such tilting of the bottle.

The operation of the machine, assuming that the various parts are in their shown and described normal positions, is as follows: First, by reference to the crimp caps 5|, the kind of beverage desired is selected and then the handle 49 is swung to a. position in alinement with the crimp cap 5| indicative of the kind of beverage selected. 'I'his results in the nger 42 that is related to the tripping finger 36 that is related to the clutch D that, in turn, is related to the conveyor I1 that is associated with the guideway containing bottles of the kind of beverage selected, being brought into alinement Awith said tripping finger 36 and in disalinement of all other of the. fingers 42 -from their related tripping fingers 36. A coin or check c then is deposited in the slot of the slide bar 54 and said slide bar pushed inwardly. Upon inward pushing of the slide bar 54, the slide bar 58 is pushed inwardly and the rod 10 is depressed, thereby rocking the shaft 4| and effecting depression of its fingers 42, with the result that the finger 42 that is alined with its related tripping finger 35 effects rocking of said tripping finger and thereby releases the element 28 of the related clutch D for projection by the spring 3| into clutching engagement with the element 25 of said clutch. A

most position by the spring 65, even though the.

slide bar 54 may be held in its inwardly pushed position. Thus, there can result only a single tripping of only one of the fingers 36 as a result of any single inward movement of the slide bar 54. Moreover, since the slide bar 54, after having been pushed inwardly and released, cannot again be pushed inwardly until another coin is deposited in the slot 55, it follows that the ma chine is effective to vend only one bottle for each coin deposited.

When the slide bar 54 is pushed inwardly it operates through the member 'i5 carried thereby to swing the arm i3 of the switch i2 to close said switch and thereby close the circuit of the motor 52. Closing of the switch l2 occurs immediately following depression of the rod it). Accordingly, immediately following engagement of the clutch D related to the guideway in which are the bottles containing the beverage of the selected hind, the motor begins to drive the shaft 2i.

.Driving of the shaft E! imparts, through the engaged clutch D, rotation to the related sprocket wheel 32 and this, in turn, eects driving of the i related sprocket chain 36 and the related conveyor iii, with the result that a bottle is deiivered from the related guideway b onto the platform Upon the completion of a single rotation of i the ciutch D the tripping finger 86 acts to disengage said clutch, and since a single, complete rotation of any given clutch D is effective to move its related conveyor il an amount to deiiver only a single bottle, only a single bottle is delivered onto the platform iii, the active conveyor ii thereupon coming to rest.

it about the time the engaged clutch D completes its single rotation, its pin 29 acts through its related arm H2 on the shaft ill to rock said shaft to effect tripping of the finger iM related to the clutch H. The clutch H thereupon becomes engaged with the result that the shaft 9U is driven from the shaft 2l through the gears 96 and 93.

Initial rotation of the shaft 90 through an angle of approximately 180 produces, through the crank arm @i and its connection with the bottle shifting elements 83, 83, inward movement of said elements 83, 83, with the result that the bottle delivered onto the platform 19 is shifted onto the elevatable platform section 8 I. As rotation of the shaft 90 continues, the elements 83, 83 are returned to their normal, outermost positions and the arm E25 is swung outwardly due to engagement of the pin |21 with the upper end portion of said arm. This results in elevation of the platform section 8| and in projection through the opening 'i1 of the neck portion of the bottle supported on said platform section.

Near the end of a single, complete rotation of the shaft 90 the pin i21 moves across the upper end of the arm l25 and the latter thereby is released to be returned to its normal position following removal of the bottle through the opening 11 and consequent release and descent of the platform section 8l, while at the end of the single, complete rotation of said shaft 90 the ringer |04 acts to disengage the clutch H. Soon thereafter the motor 52, which has been maintained in operation due to the delayed closing of the switch 12 by the mechanism 16, ceases to operate due to closing of said switch. All parts thus again are in their normal positions in readiness to effect dispensing of another bottle in the same manner just described upon shifting of the lever 9 to select the kind of beverage desired and upon deposit of a coin or check in the slot 55 and inward pushing of the slide bar 54.

The container A may be cooled either by ice or by mechanical refrigeration, assuming that the articles to be vended are bottled or otherwise packaged beverages and that it is desired to maintain them cold. However, the mechanisms comprising the invention may be used, either as shown and described, or by slight modifications thereof, for the vending of various4 articles other than bottled beverages, and in that event the container A may be of any suitable construction and may even be provided with means to heat the articles, in case that should be desired.

Obviously, the mechanisms comprising the invention may be modified in many respects Vwithin the spirit and scope of the invention as definedin the appended claims.

iclaim:

l. A vending machine comprising a plurality of article advancing conveyors, a power means for driving said conveyors individually, means including a manually adjustable element and a coin controlled mechanism for selectively connecting said conveyors with said power means, means operable responsive to an amount of operation of said power means sumcient to operate a conveyor connected therewith an amount to effect delivery of an article therefrom, to disconnect the conveyor therefrom, and means thereafter operable by the power means to move the article delivered by the selected conveyor to a position for removal from the machine.

2. A vending machine comprising a plurality of article advancing conveyors, a normally inactive power means for driving said conveyors individually, means including a manually adjustable element and a Acoin controlled mechanism for selectively connecting said conveyors to said power means and for initiating operation of said power means, means operable responsive to an amount of operation of said power means suiiicient to operate a conveyor connected therewith an amount to effect delivery of a single article therefrom, to disconnect the conveyor therefrom, means thereafter operable by the power means to move the article delivered by the selected conveyor to a position for removal from the machine, and means then operating to stop operation of the power means.

3. A vending machine comprising a plurality of article advancing conveyors, a rotatable power shaft common to all of said conveyors, a separate clutch between each conveyor and said power shaft, means whereby each clutch assumes a normally disengaged status, disconnecting its related conveyor from said power shaft, responsive to an amount of rotation of said shaft sulcient to operate a conveyor connected therewith an amount to effect delivery of a. single article therefrom, and means including a manually adlinstable element and a coin controlled mechanism preventing engagement of more than a single clutch at any given time and operable to select and engage any given clutch thereby to connect any given conveyor with said power shaft for actuation by the latter.

4. A vending machine comprising a plurality of article advancing conveyors disposed in side to side relationship, means at one end of said plurality of conveyors to receive an article delivered by any given conveyor, means including a coin controlled mechanism for the article delivery actuation of any selected conveyor to the exclusion of the other conveyors, an elevatable element at the article delivery end of the conveyors, means for shifting laterally with respect to the conveyors, across said article receiving means and onto said elevatable element, an article delivered by any conveyor to either side of said element, and means for elevating said elevatable element to elevate an article contained shiftable and rockable shaft, and means operable thereon to a position for removal from the machine.

5. A vending machine comprising a plurality l of article advancing conveyors disposed in-side to side relationship, means at one end of said plurality of conveyors to, receive an article delivered by any given conveyor, means for the article delivery actuation of any selected conveyor to the exclusion of the other conveyors, a pai-r of elements having'normal positions at the ends o'f said article receiving means and movable toward each other over saidarticle receiving means to shift an article delivered onto said receiving means onto the middle portion thereof, the said middle portion of said receiving means being elevatable to elevate an article thereon to a position for removal from the machine, means for moving said elements toward each other and for returningthem to their normal positions, and

means operating, following movement of said elements toward each other, to elevate the middle portion of said article receiving means.

'6. A vending machine comprising a plurality of article advancing conveyors, a rotatable power shaft common to all of said conveyors, a separate clutch between each conveyor and said power shaft, means whereby each vclutch assumes a normally disengaged status, disconnecting its related conveyor from said power shaft, responsive to an amount of rotation of said shaft sufficient to operate a conveyor connected therewith an amount to effect delivery of a single article therefrom, a plurality of tripelements, one individual to each clutch, means whereby any given clutch `,is engaged and connects its related conveyor with said shaft when the related trip element is tripped, manually operable means for selecting any given trip element, to the exclusion of the means for tripping the selected trip element, and means operable in tuned relationship to any -other trip elements, for tripping, coin controlled given conveyor to move an article, delivered by any given conveyor, to a position'for removal from the machine. f

7. A vending machine comprising a plurality of article advancing conveyors disposed in side to side relationship, a rotatable power shaft common to all of said conveyors, a separate clutch between each conveyor and said power shaft, means whereby eachv clutch assumes a normally disengaged status, disconnecting its lrelated conveyor from said power shaft, responsive to an amount of rotation of said shaft sufficient to operate a conveyor connected therewith an amount to eiect delivery of a single article therefrom, a plurality of trip elements, one individual to each clutch, means whereby any given clutch is engaged and connects its relatedv conveyor with said shaft when the related trip element is tripped, a longitudinally shiftable and rockable shaft, a plurality of arms on said shiftable and rockable shaft, one related to each tripping element and effective, when in an operative position relative thereto, to trip the same responsive to rocking of said shiftable and rockable shaft, said arms being adjustable to operative positions relative to their related trip elements by longitudinal adjustment of said shiftable and rockable shaft and being spaced along said shaft so that at any given time only one arm may be operatively positioned relative to its related trip element, means for longitudinally adjusting said shiftable and rockable shaft to operatively position any given arm relative to its related trip element, coin controlled means for rocking said disengaged status, disconnecting its related conveyor from said power shaft. responsive to an amount of rotation of said shaft sufficient to operate a Iconveyor connected therewith an amount to effect delivery of a single article therefrom, a plurality of trip elements, one individual to each clutch, means whereby any given clutch is engaged and connects its related conveyor with said :shaft when the related trip element is tripped, means manually adjustable to different positions in each of fwhich it is effective when subsequently actuated to trip a dinerent one of said tripl elements to the exclusion of the other trip elements, coin controlled means for effecting trip element tripping actuation of said tripping means, and means operable following delivery of an article from any given conveyor to move the delivered article to a position for removal from the machine;

9. A vending machine comprising a plurality of article advancing conveyors disposed in side to side relationship, a rotatable power shaft common to all of said conveyors, a separate clutch between each conveyor and said power shaft, means whereby each clutch assumes a normally disengaged status, disconnecting its related conveyor from said power shaft, responsive to an amount of rotation of said shaft suicient to operate a conveyor connected therewith an -amount to effect delivery of a single article therefrom, a plurality of trip elements, one individualto each clutch, means whereby any given clutch is engaged and connects its related conveyor with said shaft when the related trip element is tripped, means manually adjustable to different positions in each of which it is eective when subsequently actuated to trip a different one of said trip elements to the exclusion of the other trip elements, coin controlled means for effecting trip element tripping actuation of said tripping means, means at the delivery ends of said conveyors to receive an article' delivered by any given conveyor, a pair of members movable across said larticle receiving means to move a delivered article toward the middle of said receiving means, article elevating means at the middle of said article receiving `means onto which an article moved across said article receiving means is deposited by said members, a rotatable shaft operatively connected to said members and to said article elevating means and operable, when rotated, to move said members across said article receiving means and then to eifect elevation of said article elevating means, a clutch between said power shaft and said last mentioned shaft, means whereby said last mentioned clutch is disengaged and `disconnects said last mentioned shaft from said power shaft responsive to a single complete rotation of said last mentioned shaft,the article elevating means having a vnormal lowermost position and said members having normal outermost positions when saidlast mentioned shaft is disconnected from said power shaft, and means operable by any engaged first mentioned clutch just prior to disengagement thereof to effect engagement of said last mentioned clutch, whereby operation of said members to move a delivered article across said article receiving means is initiated following delivery of an article from any given conveyor upon said article receiving means.

10. A vending machine comprising a plurality of article advancing conveyors, a normally inactive power means for driving said conveyors individually, means including a manually adjustableelement and a coin controlled mechanism for selectively connecting said conveyors to said.

power means and for initiating operation of said power means, means operable responsive to an amount of operation of said power means sufficient to operate a conveyor connected therewith an amount to effect delivery of a single article therefrom, to disconnect the conveyor therefrom, means normally disconnected from said power means and operable thereby when connected therewith to move an article delivered by any given conveyor to a position for removal from the machine, and means operable after article delivery operation of any given conveyor to connect said normally disconnected means to the power means for operation by the latter.

11. A vending machine comprising a plurality of article advancing conveyors, a normally inactive power means for driving said conveyors individually, means including a manually adjustable element and a coin controlled mechanism for selectively connecting said conveyors to said power means and for initiating operation of said power means, means operable responsive to an amount of operation of said power means suiiicient to operate a conveyor connected therewith an amount to effect delivery of a single article therefrom, to disconnect the conveyor therefrom, means normally disconnected from said power means and operable thereby when connected therewith to move an article delivered by any given conveyor to a position for removal from the machine, means operable after article delivery operation of any given conveyor to connect said normally disconnected means to the power means for operation by the latter, and means maintaining the power means operating until completion of operation of the means for moving a delivered article to a position for remcval from the machine and thereafter operating to stop the power means.

l2. A vending machine comprising a plurality of article advancing conveyors disposed in side to side relationship, a rotatable power shaft common to all of said conveyors, a separate clutch between each conveyor and said power shaft, means whereby each clutch assumes a normally disengaged status, disconnecting its related conveyor from said power shaft, responsive to an amount of rotation of said shaft suiiicient to perate a conveyor connected therewith an amount to effect delivery of a single article therefrom, a plurality of trip elements, one individual to each clutch, means whereby any given clutch is engaged and connects its related conveyor with said shaft when the related trip element is tripped, a longitudinally shiftable and rockable shaft, a plurality of arms on said shiftable and rockable shaft, one related to each tripping element and effective, when in an operative position relative thereto, to trip the same responsive to rocking of said shiftable and rockable shaft, said arms being adjustable to operative positions relative to their related trip elements by longitudinal adjustment of said shiftable and rockable shaft and being spaced along said shaft so that at any given time only one arm may be operatively positioned relative toits related trip element, means including a swingable handle for longitudinally adjusting said shiftable and rockable shaft, and coin controlled means for rocking said shaft.

13. A vending machine comprising a plurality of article advancing conveyors disposed in side to side relationship, a normally idle rotatable power shaft common to all of said conveyors, a separate clutch between each conveyor and said power shaft, means whereby each clutch assumes a normally disengaged status, disconnecting its related conveyor from said power shaft, respon-v sive to an amount of rotation of said shaft sumcient to operate a conveyor connected therewith an amount to effect delivery of a single article therefrom, a plurality of trip elements, one individual to each clutch, means whereby any given clutch is engaged and connects its related conveyor with said shaft when the related trip element is tripped, a longitudinaly shiftable and rockable shaft, a plurality of larms on said shiftable and rockable shaft, one related to each 'tripping element and effective, when in an operative position relative thereto, to trip the same responsive to rocking of said shiftable and rockable shaft, said arms being adjustable to operative positions relative to their related trip elements by longitudinal adjustment of said shiftable and rockable shlaft and being spaced along said shaft so that at any given time only one `arm may be operatively positioned relative to its related trip element, means for longitudinaly adjusting said shiftable and rockable shaft to operatively position any given arm relative to its related trip element, coin controlled means for rocking said shiftable and roclrable shaft and for applying power to said power shaft, means operable by said power shaft. following delivery of an article from any given conveyor, to move the delivered article to a position for removal from the machine, and means maintaining -application of power to said power shaft until completion of operation of said last named means and then operating to cut off power to said power shaft.

14. A vending machine comprising a plurality of article advancing conveyors disposed in side to side relationship, means for the operation of any selected conveyor, to the exclusion of the others, to deliver an article from one end thereof, a pair of article shifting members having normal positions beyond the delivery ends of said conveyors and at the outer side of the two outermost conveyors, respectively, and movable from said positions laterally with respect to said conveyors and toward one another to shift an article delivered by any given conveyor to a position inwardly with respect to the two outermost conveyors for removal from #the machine, and means for selectively operating said conveyors and for moving said members toward one another and for returning them to their normal positions in timed sequence.

l5. A vending machine comprising a plurality of article advancing conveyors disposed in side to side relationship, means for the operation of any selected conveyor, fto the exclusion of the others, to deliver an article from one end thereof, an elevator element beyond the delivery ends of said conveyors for elevating and delivering to a position for removal from the machine an article-deposited thereon, a pair of article shifting members having normal positions beyond the delivery ends of said conveyors and at the outer returning them to their normal positions and for 10 CTI elevating said elevator element in timed sequence.

16. A vending machine as set forth in claim 15 including power means and means whereby said power means flrst operates any selected conveyor to deliver an article therefrom, then moves the article shifting members toward one another to shift the delivered article onto -the elevator element, and then elevates said elevator element.

WILLIAM T.v STANFORD. 

